Toy rocket launch pad with directional safety valve

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for launching a toy rocket that includes rotating a launch tube about an axis that is parallel with a connecting tube, which is rotatably connected to the launch tube; extending the launch tube in a perpendicular direction; progressively closing a safety valve by rotating the launch tube toward a vertical position, relative to a launch pad assembly; loading the toy rocket onto a distal end of the extended launch tube; and rapidly compressing a bellows in communication with the launch tube.

The application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No.60/496,203, which was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office onAug. 19, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to a toy rocket launcher and,more particularly, to a toy rocket launcher which is actuated by air orhydraulic pressure.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous types of toy rocket launchers are known in the art, with theusefulness and function of each being typically limited by theconstruction, manner of propulsion and arrangement of the variouselements of the launcher and rocket.

Many model rockets use self-propelled, solid fuel rocket engines topropel them into the air. Solid fuel can be dangerous, and if improperlyused can cause serious harm to the operator or to spectators.

Less dangerous are pressure-propelled rocket launchers which typicallygenerate a pressure pulse in a base, and transfer the pulse to an inerttoy rocket to implement launch. Such launch is typically accomplished bypressurized air or water.

Numerous designs of pressure-propelled rocket launchers have beensuggested and implemented. Such pressurized launchers typically operateby release of pressurized water or pressurized air into a launch tubethat extends into a hollow of the toy rocket. The pressure pulse that isutilized for launch can be developed in numerous ways, including use ofa bellows connected to the launch tube, and use of an air pump toelevate the pressure within a reservoir.

Although less dangerous than rockets having solid fuel propulsionsystems, misuse of conventional pressure-propelled rocket launchers canresult in injury. Such injury can arise when the toy rockets arelaunched in a horizontal, rather than a vertical direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The launcher of the present invention overcomes the shortcomings ofconventional toy rocket launchers by implementing a directional safetyvalve therein.

The launcher of the present invention provides an advantage of anintegrated, directional safety valve for providing a simple, costefficient and effective apparatus that avoids high velocity launch of atoy rocket in other than a vertical direction.

Further, the present invention provides a launcher of simple and durableconstruction that can be provided on a single operating platform tofacilitate easy storage, transport and packaging, without loss of thesafety feature.

The launch pad assembly provides a further advantage of providing asingle, self-contained apparatus for storing the bellows, a flexibletube connecting the bellows to the connecting tube, the launch tube anda plurality of toy rockets.

The benefits and advantages of the toy rocket launcher of the presentinvention can be accomplished by an integrally formed operating platformincluding a launch pad assembly including an axis about which a launchtube rotates, a connecting tube with a first end connected to a bellowsand a second end rotatably connected to the launch tube, and a safetyvalve formed in an outer circumference of the connecting tube, whereinthe safety valve opens to atmosphere as the launch tube is rotatedrelative to the connecting tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects andfurther features thereof, reference is made to the following detaileddescription to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the launcher of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the launcher of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the launcher of the present invention,showing the directional safety valve closed to atmosphere;

FIG. 4 is another close-up view of the launcher, with the safety valvepartially opened to atmosphere;

FIG. 5 is yet another close-up view of the launcher, with the safetyvalve fully opened to atmosphere;

FIG. 6 is a view of a bottom side of the launcher;

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of the bottom side of the launcher;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the launcher, with all componentsthereof and a plurality of toy rockets packed into an integratedoperating platform;

FIGS. 9 a-9 f show the launcher set-up; and

FIG. 10 shows a method of operation of the launcher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of theinvention makes reference to the accompanying drawings. In describingthe invention, explanation of related functions or constructions knownin the art are omitted for the sake of clearness in understanding theconcept of the invention, to avoid obscuring the description of theinvention with unnecessary detail.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of launcher 100 of the presentinvention. Launcher 100 includes a launch tube 110 rotatable about axisAl. A connecting tube 120 is coaxially provided about axis Al. Theconnecting tube 120 serves as an air channel by connecting at a firstend 122 to a device or chamber, such as a bellows 140, which provides apressurized pulse of air or water for launching a toy rocket 166 (notshown in FIG. 2).

The connecting tube 120 rotatably connects, at a second end 124 thereof,to the launch tube 110. The rotatable connection between the connectingtube 120 and the launch tube 110 is preferably airtight.

In this preferred embodiment, a proximal end 114 of the launch tube 110forms a right angle prior to entry into the second end 124 of theconnecting tube 120. The end portion of the launch tube 110 is ofslightly smaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of theconnection tube 120, allowing the launch tube 110 to fit within theconnection tube 120, and providing rotatable engagement.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, at the proximal end 114 portion of the launchtube 110 after the right angle, one or more escapes holes 116 areprovided (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). Escape holes 116 extend through thecircumference of launch tube 110, and are preferably coaxially providedabout axis Al. The escape holes 116 are not provided around the entirecircumference.

FIGS. 3-5 show an atmosphere hole 126 in the connecting tube 120. Theatmosphere hole 126 is coaxially provided about axis Al. The atmospherehole 126 is positioned at a location along axis Al corresponding to theposition of escape holes 116.

The combination of the atmosphere hole 126 and the escape holes 116 formsafety valve 130, which is provided at an outer circumference of theconnecting tube 120. As shown in FIG. 7, which is a close-up view of thebottom side of the launcher, an additional safety valve 131 can beprovided at the bottom side of the launcher.

When the launch tube 110 is in a vertical position, i.e. a positionperpendicular to the ground or the launch surface, the atmosphere hole126 and escape holes 116 are not aligned, thereby preventing escapethere through of air or liquid when a pressure pulse is channeled by theconnecting tube 120 from the bellows 140 to the launch tube 110.

As launch tube 110 rotates away from the vertical position, relative tothe launch pad assembly, atmosphere hole 126 and escape holes 116 beginto align, providing a pathway from the interior of the connecting tube120 to atmosphere. The amount that safety valve 130 opens corresponds tothe degree that the launch tube 110 is moved from the vertical position,providing yet another safety advantage.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, toy rockets 166 are individually loadedonto a distal end 112 of the extended launch tube 110, with the distalend 112 extending into a hollow of toy rocket 166.

The launch tube 110 is preferably constructed of a series of frustoconical sections of descending size, forming an tube when extended tofull length, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10. The bellows 140 ispreferably a flexible tube 142 connecting the bellows to the connectingtube. The flexible tube 142 is preferably connected to the first end 122of the connecting tube 120 by a series of frusto conical sections ofdescending size, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 9 and 10.

As shown, the launch tube can be provided on an integrated operatingplatform. The integrated platform is useful for providing storage meansfor a plurality of toy rockets, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9. As shownin FIG. 6, additional toy rockets can be stored on the bottom side ofthe operating platform.

While certain embodiments and structures are described herein embodyingthe invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications, and re-arrangements of parts can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, as described bythe appended claims.

1. A toy rocket launcher comprising: a launch pad assembly forsupporting the launcher on a horizontal surface; a connecting tubefixedly attached to the launch pad assembly; a launch tube rotatablyattached to a first end of the connecting tube, wherein the launch tuberotates about an axis parallel with the connecting tube; a bellowsconnected to a second end of the connecting tube; and a safety valvethat opens to atmosphere as the launch tube is rotated away from avertical orientation, relative to the launch pad assembly.
 2. The toyrocket launcher of claim 1, wherein the launch tube is made up of aseries of frusto conical sections of descending size, forming a tubewhen extended.
 3. The toy rocket launcher of claim 2, wherein thebellows, the retracted launch tube and a plurality of toy rockets can bestored within the launcher for easy transport.
 4. The toy rocketlauncher of claim 3, wherein the plurality of toy rockets areindividually loaded onto a distal end of the extended launch tube forlaunching.
 5. The toy rocket launcher of claim 1, wherein the safetyvalve is located on a top side of an outer circumference of theconnecting tube.
 6. The toy rocket launcher of claim 5, wherein anadditional safety valve is provided on a bottom side of the launch padassembly.
 7. A toy rocket launcher comprising: an axis about which alaunch tube rotates, wherein the launch tube is made up of a series offrusto conical sections of descending size; a connecting tube having anend connected to a bellows and another end rotatably connected to thelaunch tube; and a safety valve provided at an outer circumference ofthe connecting tube, wherein the safety valve allows air discharged fromthe bellows to vent to atmosphere when the launch tube rotates away froma vertical orientation, relative to a horizontal surface upon with thelauncher positioned.
 8. The toy rocket launcher of claim 7, wherein agreater amount of air is allowed to vent as the launch tube rotates agreater amount away from the vertical orientation.
 9. The toy rocketlauncher of claim 8, wherein the connecting tube is formed on a launchpad assembly.
 10. The toy rocket launcher of claim 7, wherein theplurality of toy rockets are individually loaded onto a distal end ofthe launch tube for launching from the launch pad assembly.
 11. The toyrocket launcher of claim 7, wherein the safety valve is located on a topside of the outer circumference of the connecting tube.
 12. The toyrocket launcher of claim 11, further comprising an additional safetyvalve on a bottom side of the outer circumference of the connectingtube.
 13. A method for launching a toy rocket comprising: rotating alaunch tube about an axis, wherein the axis is parallel with aconnecting tube rotatably connected to the launch tube and fixedlyconnected to a launch pad assembly; extending the launch tube; closing asafety valve as the launch tube rotates toward a vertical position,relative to the launch pad assembly; loading the toy rocket onto adistal end of the extended launch tube; and rapidly compressing abellows in communication with the launch tube.
 14. The method forlaunching a toy rocket of claim 13, wherein the connecting tube isfixedly connected to a self-contained operating platform, which haspreformed regions for storing the bellows and a plurality of toyrockets.
 15. The method for launching a toy rocket of claim 14, whereinthe launch tube is made up of a series of frusto conical sections.